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WORDS ON THE STREETEuropean Literature Night Dublin

Nassau Street and surrounding area

Thursday 15th May 2014 6.30pm-9pm

Words on the Street – European Literature NightCrossing political and literary borders – Words on the Street will

take you on a journey across the cultural landscape in an evening of

celebrity readings of work by contemporary European authors – in

stunning and unusual locations around the Nassau Street area of

Dublin.

Treat your eyes and ears to a new experience – hear eleven voices from

eleven countries – in eleven exciting venues.

The first reading at each venue will start at 6.30pm and the last one at 9pm. Each reading takes approximately 15 minutes and is repeated on the hour and half hour.

A Dublin UNESCO City of Literature Initiative

Thanks to our partners Alliance Française, British Council, Goethe Institut, Instituto Cervantes, Italian Institute of Culture, embassies of Austria, Denmark, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and the Romanian Cultural Institute, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and participating venues.

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AUSTRIA

Love VirtuallyBy Daniel Glattauer translated by Jamie Bulloch and Katharina BielenbergRead by Maria Doyle Kennedy at Hodges Figgis Bookstore, Dawson Street

Hodges Figgis Bookstore has been a stalwart of Dublin bookselling since 1768 and is in its 246th year of trading. It is Ireland’s oldest bookstore and has the greatest range of books in the country. It was mentioned in Ulysses by James Joyce and celebrates Bloomsday each year.

Daniel Glattauer was born in Vienna in 1960. Since 1989 he has been a columnist for Der Standard, and three collections of his articles have been published in book form. Love Virtually sold over 1 million copies in its original German language edition and rights have been sold in 35 countries. The sequel, Every Seventh Wave, will be published by MacLehose Press.

Maria Doyle Kennedy is a well known actress and singer who has just finished a run of sold out shows in Europe and North America. She lives in Dublin with Kieran and their four sons and she is a great believer in doing things (rather than just talking about doing them). She loves crisps. Recent acting credits include Orphan Black, for which she won a Canadian Screen Award 2014. Maria has a new album out called Maria Live.

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DENMARK

The Prophets of Eternal FjordBy Kim Leine translated by Martin AitkenRead by Phelim Drew at the Mansion House, Dawson Street

The Mansion House is the official residence of Dublin’s first citizen, the Lord Mayor. It has been at the heart of city government since 1715. Construction started in 1705 and 10 years later, it was sold to Dublin Corporation for £3,500, in addition to an annual rent of 40 shillings and an agreement to provide a loaf of double refined sugar, weighing six pounds, at Christmas. It is the oldest free-standing house in Dublin; the first Dáil (Parliament) met in the Round Room in 1919 and cabinet meetings of that Dáil were held in the Dining Room.

Kim Leine is one of the most celebrated authors in Denmark and Scandinavia at present. He won the Nordic Council Literature Prize 2013 for The Prophets of Eternal Fjord which has been translated into 12 languages and is his fourth novel. Born in 1961 in Norway, he moved to Denmark when he was 17 and later moved to Greenland where he lived and worked as a nurse for 15 years before returning to Denmark in 2004.

Dublin-born actor Phelim Drew studied at the Gaiety School of Acting and has performed in many plays and films over the last 20 years. His debut acting role was in the film My Left Foot. His other film credits include The Commitments, Angela’s Ashes and King Arthur. He has performed in many theatre productions including Pride and Prejudice (Gate Theatre), The Plough and the Stars (Gate Theatre) as well as numerous plays in the Abbey Theatre including The Seafarer, The Playboy of the Western World and, most recently, he played the role of Mr Hennessy in James Plunkett’s The Risen People directed by Jimmy Fay.

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FRANCE

The List of My Desiresby Grégoire Delacourt translated by Anthea BellRead by Anne Doyle at Alliance Française, Kildare Street

In 1782 No.1 Kildare Street became home to The Kildare Street Club, set up after the blackballing of William Bruton Conyngham at Daly’s Club in Dame Street. By 1858, the original premises was too small for the club, so between 1859 and 1860, a new club house was built replacing three existing houses on Kildare Street and one on South Leinster Street. The club later fell into decline and in 1976 it merged with the Dublin University Club and moved to premises at 17 St Stephen’s Green as the Kildare Street and University Club. No. 1 Kildare Street became the Dublin branch of the Alliance Française, the third biggest in Europe and the first established in a non-French speaking country.

Originally from Wexford Anne Doyle is a journalist, presenter and former news reader. Having graduated from UCD with a BA in English and History and a H.Dip, Anne worked in Dublin City Libraries and the Department of Foreign Affairs before joining RTÉ. While in RTÉ she became best known as a newsreader who anchored its main evening television news programmes during 33 years of service, along with being co-presenter on Crimeline. Anne enjoys travel and reading especially folklore, crime and history.

Grégoire Delacourt was born in Valenciennes in 1960. His first novel, L’Écrivain de la Famille, was published in 2011 and won five literary prizes including the Prix Marcel Pagnol and the Prix Rive Gauche. The List of My Desires has been a runaway number one bestseller in France, with rights sold in 27 countries. He lives in Paris where he runs an advertising agency with his wife.

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GERMANY

Balder & SonsBy Kathrin Schmidt translated by Susan CoxRead by Aoibhinn McGinnity at Royal Irish Academy, Dawson Street

The Royal Irish Academy was built circa 1756 as a private residence for Sir John Denny Vesey, the building became home to the Royal Irish Academy in 1854. The meeting room at the rear of the building was designed by Frederick Villiers Clarendon and was modelled on the Great Hall at Euston Station, London. The Academy library holds the largest collection of old Irish manuscripts in the world and also houses some of the furnishings from the old Parliament Building on College Green.

Kathrin Schmidt was born in 1958 in Gotha, she has worked as a psychologist, press editor and social scientist. She now lives in Berlin. She has received numerous awards for her novels and poetry collections including the German Book Award in 2009. Kathrin’s short stories range from the time before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 to the present. They feature families and single households showing strong women at weak moments and men who are never as strong as they believed they were.

Originally from Monaghan, Aoibhinn McGinnity graduated with a degree in Theatre Dance from the London Studio Centre. Since then she has appeared on screen in the regular role of Trish in all four sesaon’s of RTÉ’s hit series Love/Hate. Other screen work includes roles in Wild Decembers, Trivia, All Is By My Side, a Jimi Hendrix biopic, the BBC Drama Quirke opposite Gabriel Byrne and Sky’s Moone Boy with Chris O’Dowd. Her onstage credits include roles in Between Foxrock and a Hard Place at both the Olympia and Gaiety Theatres, Alice in Funderland at the Abbey Theatre and Anglo; The Musical at the Olympia Theatre.

* Limited access to venue, not suitable for large motorised wheelchairs.

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ITALY

Borgo PropizioBy Loredana Limone translated by Maria Tirelli (English) and Padraic O’Brien (Irish)Read in Irish by Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh at The Freemasons’ Hall, Molesworth Street

The Freemasons’ Hall is a mid Victorian building from the 1860s to a prizewinning design by the Birmingham architect, Edward Holmes. It has been the headquarters of freemasonry in Ireland since it was built, governing the hundreds of lodges throughout Ireland. The building houses a number of meeting rooms, each one of which is decorated in a different architectural style, including an Egyptian style room and a mock Gothic Room. It also contains administrative offices, a library and a museum. It is home to an exhibition relating to freemasonry in Ireland from the early 18th century.

Loredana Limone, Neapolitan by birth and Milanese by adoption, wrote a dozen books ranging from fairy tales to gastronomy before making her debut in fiction with Borgo Propizio. Her novel received special mention at the 2012 Fellini Award, has been translated into Spanish and is soon to be translated into German and Bulgarian. The first instalment in a trilogy, its sequel is being published by Salani. Loredana set up and runs the creative gourmet-writing workshop Sapori Letterari.

Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh is a journalist and TV presenter. She presents the St. Patrick’s Day Parade live each year on RTÉ and has presented well-known shows on RTÉ including Ireland’s Search and Rescue, The Afternoon Show, The All Ireland Talent Show and Echo Island. She also participated in RTÉ’s Celebrity Bainisteoir taking her team, Nobber GFC, to the semi finals. Bláthnaid is a native Irish speaker and campaigner for the language; in January 2013 she made her acting debut in the TG4 series Crisis Eile playing politician Maeve Kelly-Clarke. Bláthnaid is an ambassador for the charity Plan Ireland, a global children’s charity.

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MALTA

At Livia’s BarBy Pierre J Mejlak translated by Antoine CassarRead by Aengus Mac Grianna at Buswells Hotel, Molesworth Street

Buswells Hotel, one of the oldest Dublin city centre hotels, comprises five Georgian town houses. This elegant hotel has operated since 1882 and remains a focal point in Dublin. The hotel is located next to the Dáil (Irish Parliament), and is a short stroll from Dublin´s famous shopping and entertainment areas – Grafton Street, St Stephen’s Green and Temple Bar. Buswells is a boutique hotel with special character and elegance – a charming 67-bedroom hotel nestled in a quiet Georgian area of Dublin.

Pierre J Mejlak is a Maltese novelist and the author of the short story collections Qed Nistenniek Niezla max-Xita (I’m Waiting for You to Fall with the Rain), Dak li l-Lejl Ihallik Tghid (What the Night Lets You Say) and the novel Rih Isfel (Southern Wind), all winners of the Malta National Book Award. He won the Sea of Words European Award for his short story I Want to Call Out to Samirah. His work has been read in translation at numerous literary festivals around Europe and the Middle East. Twice winner of the Malta Journalism Award, Pierre J. Mejlak worked as a journalist from 1999 to 2005. He was a BBC correspondent, a regular columnist for Malta’s daily In-Nazzjon and produced radio shows – including 60 one-hour documentaries on rock legends – for various national radio stations.

RTÉ newscaster, Aengus Mac Grianna was born in Raheny, to an Irish speaking family and studied Irish, politics and geography in UCD. On completing college, he joined the RTÉ newsroom where he began his career as Overnight Editor on RTÉ Radio 1. He has worked in several areas of the RTÉ newsroom down through the years, including 2fm, as a reporter on Morning Ireland, News at One, Oirechatas Report, and Nuacht. Prior to becoming a full time newscaster in 1999, Aengus worked for several years as a TV reporter. He currently presents RTÉ News on 2 and RTÉ News Now. Aengus lives with his partner Terry on an alpaca farm near the Naul in north County Dublin.

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NETHERLANDS

CaesarionBy Tommy Wieringa translated by Sam GarrettRead by Bryan Murray at St. Ann’s Church, Dawson Street

St.Ann’s Church was built in the early 1700’s with private pews in the church to accommodate distinguished local residents such as the Duke of Leinster, the Archbishop of Dublin and the Lord Mayor. The imposing neo-Romanesque front was designed by Sir Thomas Deane, the distinguished architect of the museum at Oxford. The Georgian interior was designed by the architect Isaac Willis, who is also credited with the design of St Werburgh’s Church. A number of famous people have been associated with the church such as General Anthony St Leger, Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker, Theobald Wolfe Tone, Thomas Barnardo, Douglas Hyde and Erskine Childers.

Tommy Wieringa was born in 1967 and grew up partly in the Netherlands, partly in the tropics. He began his writing career with travel stories and journalism and is the author of All About Tristan, which won the Halewijn Prize in 2002, and Joe Speedboat, which was his breakthrough work selling 325,000 copies and which won the Bordewijk Prize in 2006. His novel Caesarion was shortlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award in 2013.

Bryan Murray was an Abbey Theatre actor for seven years and has also been a member of The Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre Company in the UK. He is probably best known for his many TV roles, including Fitz in Strumpet City, Flurry Knox in The Irish RM, Shifty in Bread, (for which he won BBC TV Personality of The Year) Harry Cassidy in Perfect Scoundrels, Trevor Jordache in Brookside and Bob in Fair City. He presented the IFTA nominated documentary series The Tenements for TV3 and the four part documentary series The Big House – also for TV3.

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POLAND

Kolyma Diaries: A Journey into Russia’s Haunted HinterlandBy Jacek Hugo-Bader translated by Antonia Lloyd-JonesRead by Aine Lawlor in European Union House, Dawson Street

European Union House is a modern building located at 18 Dawson Street and is home to The European Commission Representation in Ireland. This is part of the Commission’s network of representative offices throughout the member states of the European Union. The European Commission Representation in Ireland organises a large range of events – Europe Day, International Women’s Day, political and economic meetings, wide-ranging cultural activities – book launches, meetings with authors and exhibitions.

Born in 1957, Jacek Hugo-Bader is a leading Polish journalist and an award-winning reporter, called by critics the “master of reportage”. Bader is a truly courageous and inquisitive reporter who goes where no one else would dare to tread; he has ridden a bike right across Central Asia, the Gobi Desert, China, and Tibet, and has kayaked across Lake Baikal. Kolyma Diaries is the fruit of his 2000km trip along the Kolyma highway in an old jeep.

Aine Lawlor started in RTÉ in 1984 as a trainee journalist, moving on to reporting and presenting, and eventually joining the Morning Ireland team in 1995. Since 2013, she has presented RTÉ Radio’s News at One and The Week in Politics on RTÉ One television. She has worked on The Pat Kenny Show, Today at 5, RTÉ 2fm News and a variety of television programmes, including The Nature of Things, Tuesday File and as narrator for the highly-acclaimed series on clerical sexual abuse in Irish institutions, States of Fear. In October 2012, she was awarded Best News Broadcaster of the Year at the prestigious PPI Radio Awards. Before working in journalism she worked in arts administration, and is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, where she was also President of the Students Union. She is married to Ian and they have four children.

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ROMANIA

Why We Love WomenBy Mircea Cărtărescu translated by Alistair Ian BlythRead by Fiachna Ó Braonáin in Royal College of Physicians, Kildare Street

Housed in the Royal College of Physicians, Dun’s Library, founded in 1713, contains approximately 30,000 books, pamphlets and journals relating to the history of medicine. From its foundation to the 1960s, the library was a working research library for medics. Since the 1960s, Dun’s Library has stopped collecting current medical texts, and now focuses on historical medical works and the history of medicine in Ireland. The building was purchased by the college in 1860 from the Kildare Street Club for £5,000. A fire subsequently destroyed the premises before the College could move in, but an insurance payout of £6,000 was received and was put towards the construction of a new building. In 1864 the College’s new home at 6 Kildare Street was complete and in 1874 the building was extended to include the former racquet court of the Kildare Street Club, now the Corrigan Hall.

Mircea Cărtărescu was born in Bucharest, in 1956. His first works were volumes of poetry and towards the end of the 1980s, he turned to prose with the short stories of Nostalgia which were followed by novels Travesti, Blinding (Orbitor), recently published in English and Levantul (The Levant). Cărtărescu is the winner of the 2000 Romanian Writers’ Association Prize, the 2011 Vilenica Prize, the 2012 Haus der Kulteren der Welt International Literature Prize, the 2012 Berlin International Prize for Literature, the 2013 Swiss Leuk Spycher Preis and the Serbian Grand Prize for International Poetry in Novi Sad.

Fiachna Ó Braonáin is a musician and radio presenter. A child of the 60s he was raised on a diet of Irish music, language and song. Rock n’ Roll crept in too. He is a founder member of Hothouse Flowers along with his school friend Liam Ó Maonlaí. He currently presents Late Date on RTÉ Radio One and recently acted as a mentor for Dolores O’Riordan’s team on The Voice of Ireland. His latest musical project has just hit the digital shelves, a solo album Bougainvillea which he recorded while living in France. He also writes music for television and lives in Wicklow.

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SPAIN

Nothing Ever MattersBy José Ovejero translated by Philip H. D. Smith and Graziella de LuisRead by Joe Duffy in No. 5 South Leinster Street

No. 5 South Leinster Street was built about 1758 and went through many changes before its incorporation into the Millennium Wing of the National Gallery of Ireland and its restoration, from near ruin, in 2005-2008. Four neo-classical plasterwork ceilings were added in the late 18th century when the rear elevation was bowed. A ballroom, erected in the garden, is unique in Dublin and is now a feature of the Winter Garden Restaurant. A gilt columned Rococo mantelpiece and three marble Georgian-style mantels have been installed to replace those lost over the years.

José Ovejero is the author of novels, short stories, travel books, poetry and drama. He has been awarded numerous prizes including the Ramón Gómez de la Serna prize for La comedia Salvaje (2011); the Anagrama prize for his essay La ética de la crueldad (2012); and the Alfaguara Prize for the novel La invención del amor (2013). His books have been translated into several languages. He has given lectures and directed creative writing workshops in universities and cultural institutions worldwide.

Joe Duffy is the presenter of Liveline, one of the most popular radio shows in Ireland. Brought up in Ballyfermot, he was one of the first people from his area to attend Trinity College Dublin where he became a student leader advocating social justice and access to education. He went on to have a successful radio career with the Gay Byrne Show on RTÉ Radio One, and became the presenter of Liveline in 1999. His autobiography Just Joe was published in October 2011. Married to June Meehan, he is the father of triplets and now lives in Clontarf in Dublin.

** Wheelchair accessible until 8.30pm.

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UNITED KINGDOM

Even the DogsBy Jon McGregorRead by Jon McGregor in the National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street

On 29th August, 1890 the present National Library of Ireland building was opened. On entering the front hall the visitor is immediately engaged with the neo-classical architecture. The entrance hall is decorated with a detailed mosaic floor and beautifully designed stained glass windows. The owl, symbol of the library, is repeated throughout the floor with the motto ‘sapienta’ meaning wisdom. The staircase leads to the impressive D-shaped reading room with its coffered ceiling.

The National Library of Ireland’s purpose is to collect, preserve, promote and make accessible the documentary and intellectual record of the life in Ireland. One of eight legal deposit libraries in Ireland, it is entitled to a free copy of all printed works published in Ireland. It also collects unpublished and manuscript, visual and electronic material relating to Ireland and Irish history.

Jon McGregor writes novels and short stories. His recent books include a short story collection, This Isn’t the Sort of Thing That Happens to Someone Like You, and his third novel, Even the Dogs, which won the International IMPAC Dublin Literature Award in 2012. He is a Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Nottingham, where he edits The Letters Page, a literary journal. The Guardian recently named him as one of the Top Ten writers to see live.

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RT

ENTRANCETO DUBLIN

PO TUNNEL

AL FIE B

AVIVASTADIUM

HEUSTON

2THE O

SÁRASBU

Hodges Figgis

Mansion House

Royal Irish Academy

St. Ann’s Church

Freemasons'Hall

BuswellsHotel

Alliance FrançaiseNo. 5 South Leinster Street

Royal College of Physicians of Ireland

ST. STEPHEN’SGREEN

LUAS

National Library of Ireland

European Union House

RT

ENTRANCETO DUBLIN

PO TUNNEL

AL FIE B

AVIVASTADIUM

HEUSTON

2THE O

SÁRASBU

Hodges Figgis

Mansion House

Royal Irish Academy

St. Ann’s Church

Freemasons'Hall

BuswellsHotel

Alliance FrançaiseNo. 5 South Leinster Street

Royal College of Physicians of Ireland

ST. STEPHEN’SGREEN

LUAS

National Library of Ireland

European Union House